In recent years there have been a number of chronologically broad studies that focus on Roman Syria and the Near East. They necessarily provide some important analysis of the region on which this book focuses but are often only able to deal with some of the important aspects briefly. One of the most valuable of these studies is that of Fergus Millar who analyses the history and culture of the Roman Near East from 31bc to AD337.1 Millar addresses some issues that have been re-examined in greater detail in this book, and some sections of it owe much to his work. Kevin Butcher’s recent publication on Roman Syria and the Near East covers an even broader time-frame than Millar from the arrival of Pompey in Syria to the Islamic conquests.2 Butcher makes valuable observations on the Euphrates, Palmyra and Mesopotamia, but they are necessarily briefer due to the nature of his study. A further example of a broad approach is Warwick
Ball’s Rome in the East, which claims to be ‘a work of synthesis, a general study of the history, architecture and archaeology of the Near Eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, of Roman penetration beyond the frontiers, and of ensuing influences that brought about Rome’s own transformation’.3
Other recent works that are more regionally specific take particular themes as their focus. Nigel Pollard’s, Soldiers, Cities and Civilians in Roman Syria is a good example.4 The recent publication by Michael Sommer of Roms Orientalische Steppengrenze is more specific in taking a regional approach to the study of cultural history, with a focus on Palmyra, Edessa, Hatra and Dura Europos. Sommer covers the time-frame from Pompey to Diocletian and makes many valuable observations.5 Aspects of both works are important to this study.
World History
